Container



Q April 9, 1935. H. E. BARROLL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 31,

7 17211612137 Hem" EBarmL Patented Apr. 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CONTAINER a corporation of Ohio Application August 31,

3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to containers and more particularly tothe type which is required to be sealed, and while the container of myinvention is capable of a wide variety of uses, it is particularlyadvantageous-in containers for heavy liquids such as lacquers, paints,stains, varnishes and the like.

Containers of this character are customarily made from commercial tinplate, the top being provided with a cut-out opening sufficiently largeto permit stirring and mixing of the contents before using and theinsertion of a wide paint;

brush, but such opening was quite unsuited for the pouring of thecontents from the container and was otherwise objectionable. Forinstance, the raw edge of the metal surrounding the opening had beenturned inwardly into the container where it is exposed to the contentsof the container. Contact with this raw edge of the metal by manyproducts shipped in such containers results, through electrolysis orcorrosion, in objectionable deterioration of the container contents,either through decomposition thereof or through discoloration.

One of the purposes of my present invention is to provide a containerwhich will obviate this deterioration of the container contents byprecluding contact between this raw or free edge, of the metal and thecontainer contents both during shipment and during pouring. This objectis accomplished by disposing the raw free edge of the metal surroundingthe pouring opening entirely outside the container and also out of thepath of flow of the contents as they are poured from the container.

Recent developments in the paint and lacquer industries have made itpossible for the customer to produce definite shades of colors byfollowing instructions furnished by the manufacturer in the mixing ofthe colors from difierent containers. .This practice necessitatesaccurate mixing of the basic colors which involves the pouring of exactpredetermined amounts from the-various containers. The containersheretofore used in which the free edge of the metal surrounding thepouring opening was turned inwardly into the container, as previouslymentioned herein, were not suitably constructed for accurate pouring.Consequently, the container contents, as they issued through theopening, flowed over the surrounding portion of the container top andover the edge of the body, causing the contents not only to flow in awide uncontrollable stream, but also resulting in a smearing of thecontents over the container top and to a greater or less extent 1933,Serial No. 687,560

over the side wall of the container. This results not only in a waste ofcontainer contents but such of the contents as dry or partially dry onthe top of the container and in the. sealing groove around the openingare detrimental to the subsequently used contents, and interfere with 5resealing of the container.

Another purpose of my present invention is to provide a container fromwhich the contents I may be accurately poured in a narrow readily 1ocontrollable stream and which, because of its construction, will causethe stream to be delivered beyond the container body and top so that itwill neither flow nor drip over or upon the top or the side walls of thebody and from which the last drop may be wiped off; I

A further purpose of my invention is to provide a container and aclosure therefor which will infalliblyand efiectively seal the containernot only against leakage of the contents, but also against the admissionof air intothe container both during shipment and between intermittentuses of the container, and to keep free from dust and dirt all portionsof the container which will come in contact with the contents in usewhen 2 mixing, pouring or when using a brush. With this end in view, myinvention contemplates not only a friction seal between the containertop and its closure, but also in addition a compressible or resilientseal between the mouth of the container and the closure, which serves asa supplemental or secondary seal in addition to the main friction seal.K

Still another object of my invention is to provide a sealed containerwhich may be readily opened by the consumer without damage to either'the container or the closure, thereby enabling repeated resealing withthe same closure between intermittent partial uses of the containercontents.

Other objects and many of the inherent advantages of my invention shouldbe readily appreciated as the same is better understood from thefollowing description considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which a preferred, although not an essential, embodiment ofmy invention is illustrated.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a container constructed in accordance withmy inventiom.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, certain portions being broken away tomore clearly illustrate underlying portions,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional t view illustrating moreclearly the preferred structural details, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification.

Referring to the drawing more specifically, reference character 5indicates generally the body of a container comprising the preferablycylindrical side walls 6 united by a lock or a lap or a lock and lapseam, as preferred, the bottom 1 being double seamed or otherwisesecured to the body as indicated at 8.

The top indicated generally by reference character 9 is also seamed asat H to the body and this top which preferably, although notnecessarily, is made of a single piece of tin plate or other suitablemetal is shaped to provide a radially disposed marginal portion [2extending inwardly from the body walls a distance determined by the sizeof the container, from the inner edge of which marginal portion the topextends outwardly at an inclination toward the central axis of thecontainer, as indicated at I3. This inclined portion is surrounded by acylindrical portion M which terminates in a flared portion l5 formingthe mouth of the top. This flared portion I5 is designed to form apouring ring which concentrates the stream regardless of the directionin which the container is tilted. The free edge of the metal surroundingthe mouth is turned downwardly and then inwardly beneath'the mouth asindicated at I6 so as to preclude any possibility of contact betweenthis edge and the container contents both during shipment and when thecontents are poured from the container, and to present a smooth narrowsurface for effecting a supplemental seal in the manner later explained.

It will be observed that the shape of the top is such as'to be conduciveto easy, accurate pouring of the contents from the container. Theinclined portion l3 facilitates a smooth fiow of the contents outwardlyfrom the body and the flared portion with the smooth edge rounded mouthinsures a smooth and easy discharge. Furthermore, the proportions aresuch that the mouth is sufiiciently remote from the edge of thecontainer to insure, when the container-is tilted, a dischargeof thecontents over the edge so that the discharging liquid contacts neitherthe top nor the side walls of the container, but is discharged clear ofboth and at no time by either fiow or drip contacts the container wallsor top.

The closure for the container is preferably stamped up from a singlepiece of tin plate or the like and comprises a disc-shaped bottom I1surrounded by a cylindrical portion I! which is preferably very'slightlytapered inwardly from top to bottom to facilitate its entrance into theneck or cylindrical portion Id of the top and is proportioned to snuglyfit within this neck so as to form a frictional seal which prevents bothair and liquid leakage.

The upper end of the cylindrical portion of the closure is turnedoutwardly to form a radially extending portion l8 overlying the mouth ofthe container and at the perimeter of this portion the metal is bentdownwardly to form a skirt l9 spaced from the cylindrical portion I1sufficiently to accommodate the flared mouth of the container andsurrounding the mouth and fiared portion to protect the same againstinjury and prevent collection of dirt upon the pouring skirt [5.

The free edge of the closure is turned upwardly and inwardly to form acircumferential bead which not only conceals the raw edge of the metalbut also reinforces and strengthens the closure, and furthermoreprovides a substantial surface against which a tool or implement, suchas a screw driver for instance, may be pressed in forcing the closureoff to unseal the container.

For many products to be shipped in such containers, the frictional sealafforded by forcing the closure into the neck of the top is suflicientbut for shipment of certain penetrating liquids or highly volatileliquids a supplemental seal is sometimes desirable. Also such a seal isusually a necessity when the containers are sealed in vacuum and inother cases when, in addition to the liquid seal provided between theclosure and the surrounding neck, an air seal is necessary.

For the purpose of meeting such conditions my invention contemplates asecondary or supplemental seal in the form of a sealing ring 2-2 ofsuitable resilient and somewhat compressible substance, such as rubbercomposition, which is interposed in the closure in position to beclamped between and partially compressed by the opposed surfaces of thecontainer mouth and the overlying radially disposed portion 18 of theclosure. It will be observed that the turned edge of the mouth presentsan upper surface of suificient width to prevent cutting or otherwiseinjuring the sealing ring, but at the same time sufficiently narrow toproduce an effective seal. The top opening I4 and the portion I! of theclosure may be threaded instead of smooth if preferred, and the skirt IQof the closure may be knurled, thus giving only a single seal on the topl6 of the pouring ring.

In the modification of Fig. 4, the supplemental seal is effected bydirect engagement of the mouth edge with the radial portion of theclosure. To aid in the sealing the radial portion of the closure may bebeaded as indicated at 23 to provide an internal groove for thereception of and frictional engagement with the rolled mouth edge of thecontainer.

In the use of my improved container the top and bottom may be doubleseamed to the body and the container may be filled through the opening,whereupon the closure member is forced under the proper pressuredownwardly into the neck to effectually seal the container. Ifpreferred, however, the top and closure may be assembled in sealedrelation and the assembly may be double seamed on to the body after thecontainer has been filled. To open the container it is only necessary toinsert a suitable implement .such as a screw driver beneath the bottomof the skirt I9 and pry upwardly with the edge of the body as a fulcrum.By the application of upward pressure in this manner against the closureat several points" successively around the container, the closure isreadily loosened and removed. When a desired portion of the contents hasbeen poured out or otherwise used the container may be effectuallyrescaled by simply reinserting the closure in the neck and pressing itin with the requisite force.

It will be observed that the opening in the container top issufiiciently large to permit the stirring or mixing of the contents witha paddle or stirrer, and to accommodate a paint brush when the contentsare applied directly from the container. The shape of the mouth not onlyfacilitates pouring without dripping but also causes the liquid left incontact with the mouth by pouring or by a brush to drain back into thecontainer when it is set upright so that none of the con- Ill) tentscontact the outside of the container. Furthermore, the container is freefrom grooves or sealing channels which ordinarily become filled with theliquid which dries therein and interferes with rescaling, and frequentlycontaminate the contents with hardened particles.

In general practice in filling such containers a space above thecontents and between the contents and sections l2 and I3 of the top andsection ll of the closure is allowed for air or a partial vacuum for theexpansion or contraction of the contents of the container. To preventthis space being too great the section ll of the closure is designed toclose the lower portion of the neck Hi. When the closure is removed theneck l4 and the pouring ring l5 then become an added advantage inpreventing the contents from being forced out of the container and overthe edge of the opening I6 when the contents are even violentlystirredbyany means of mixing.

It is believed that my invention and its advantageous characteristicswill be appreciated without further description, and it should bemanifest that the structural details illustrated and described arecapable of considerable modification and variation without departingfrom the essence of my invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a body, a sheet metal top having a centralopening defined by a cylindrical throat, the metal above the throatbeing flared outwardly for a substantial distance to provide at itsouter end a pouring mouth spaced away from said throat, and a closureincluding a cylindrical body adapted to circumferentially fit withinsaid throat and form therewith a friction seal for the liquid within thecontainer, a radially disposed flange surrounding the outer end of saidclosure body and adapted to overlie said mouth, a skirt depending fromthe perimeter of said flange and surrounding said throat, the free edgeof said skirt being reinforced and sealing material interposed betweenthe upper edge of said mouth and said overlying flange to provide ahermetic seal at said mouth separate and remote from said friction sealat the throat said flared portion constituting the pouring mouth beingspaced from said cylindrical body of the'closure, the friction sealbetween the cylindrical body of the closure and the throat of said topacting to maintain said hermetic seal.

2. A container comprising a body, a sheet metal top having a centralopening defined by a cylindrical throat, the metal 'above the throatbeing flared outwardly for a substantial distance to provide at itsouter end a pouring mouth spaced away from said throat, and a closureshaped to provide a side wall for snugly fitting and forming a frictionseal for the liquid contents of the container, for said throat, providedat its outer end with a circumferential flange extending over said mouthand terminating in a depending skirt, and sealing material between saidmouth and flange providing a hermetic seal remote from said frictionseal said flared mouth being spaced from the side wall of the closure,the friction seal between the side wall of the closure and the throat ofthe top acting to maintain said hermetic seal.

3. A container comprising a body, a sheet metal top formed to provide aradially disposed mar ginal portion, an inwardly inclined portion at theinner edge of the marginal portion, a cylindrical throat surmounting theinclined portion, and an outwardly flared portion surmounting the throatto form a pouring mouth, the said metal top being joined to the body bya seam shaped to project axially of the container beyond the plane ofthe said marginal portion to form an upstanding tool fulcrum, and aclosure shaped to provide a wall to frictionally fit within the saidthroat portion,

a radially disposed flange to overlie said outwardly flared mouth, and askirt depending from the outer edge of said flange to encircle saidflared mouth portion and a part of said throat in spaced relation toboth of the same, the free edge of said skirt being reinforced andterminating adjacent the said seam, when the closure is in place, so asto be radially engaged by a tool fulcrumed on the seam toeflect removalof the closure.

HENRY E. BARROLL.

